The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the genetic merit for backfat thickness (GMB) and subcutaneous fat thickness (FT) on meat quality traits of Nellore and crossbred (½ Aberdeen Angus + ½ Nellore) steers. The animals were obtained by mating Nellore cows with Nellore or Aberdeen Angus bulls. Both paternal genetic groups were selected to provide positive (+, high GMB) or negative (-, low GMB) expect...

This study aimed to forecast soil carbon in Minas Gerais, Brazil. We are using the Random Forest Regressor machine learning technique. The study utilised 41 environmental factors. We were focused on how reducing the model’s complexity could help map soil carbon more effectively. To select the variables, we utilised Altmann’s permutation method combined with the top-k selection test. Results show that solar radiation, water def...

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major limiting factor for plants, but its effects in hydroponic systems, particularly on chlorophyll and the photosystem, remain poorly understood. Among horticultural crops, lettuce is notable for its production versatility in diverse systems, which may be susceptible to exposure to this metal. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of Al on the growth, tissue accumulation, chloroplasti...

Melatonin has been extensively studied for its antioxidant activity, yet its safety profile and concentration-dependent effects remain only partially understood, particularly in aquatic experimental systems. Here, we investigated the effects of melatonin on behavioral and physiological responses in a pilocarpine (PILO)-induced seizure-like model using zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) larvae. A multibiomarker framework was employed, c...

Insects such as the dubia cockroach ( Blaptica dubia ) are promising alternative protein sources for animal feed, but there is a lack of management information on their commercial rearing. These cockroaches are fed fruit and vegetables, as well as the commercial feed of various species, most commonly poultry feed. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of four commercial poultry rations (Initial-T1, Growth-T2, Fattening-T3,...

This study quantifies how topographic features influence lightning activity in the São Francisco River Basin, Brazil, filling a critical gap by establishing previously unavailable thresholds. A 16-year climatology (1998–2013) was developed using LIS/TRMM lightning data, ASTER GDEM topography, CHIRPS precipitation, and MapBiomas land use, all standardized to a 0.1° grid. The analysis integrates elevation, slope, aspect, and lan...

The replacement of fishmeal with plant-based ingredients in aquafeeds, while economically and environmentally advantageous, can impair lipid metabolism and liver function in fish due to the lack of specific bioactive compounds such as bile acids (BAs). BAs are amphipathic steroid molecules that facilitate lipid digestion and act as signaling hormones, yet their optimal inclusion levels in conventional, balanced diets for Nile...